Chain



Q Nov. 19, 1940. w, F. FISCHER CHAIN Filed Feb. 8, 1939 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIJ3110mm WldoEFische Patented Nov. 19, 1940 UNITED STATES CHAIN Waldo F.Fischer, Chattanooga, Tenn, assignor to Charles E. Kimball, Chattanooga,Tenn.

Application February 8, 1939, Serial No. 255,332

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a chain suitable for use as aconveyor of articles or as a driving chain.

It is an object of this invention to provide a 5 conveyor chain havinglinks formed of two parts to define a link casing capable of beingreadily assembled or disassembled without the use of tools, whenever itis desirable to change the length of the chain or to replace worn partsof the link.

It is a further object of this invention to Provide a conveyor chainhaving its links formed of two parts with ends in telescoped relation sothat the ends of the links are formed of two engaging layers ofmaterial.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a conveyor chainhaving links formed of a pair of plates provided with curved endportions substantially coextensive with the width of the plates, andhousing hinge pins having a length substantially equal to the width ofthe plates.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a conveyor chainhaving links formed of a pair of elongated plates having curved endportions, and with the end portions in nested relation, and to providemeans to limit motion of the nested portions in a transverse direction.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a conveyor chainhaving links formed of two parts in assembled relation to define a linkcasing, with a first part formed of a material treated to resist wear asit slides along a support, and with a second part forming a cover forthe first part to define a link casing therewith.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a link casingcomprising a wear plate having end portions in elevated relation to anintermediate dished portion of the plate, and a cover member having lipsengaging and bracing the end portions of the wear plate.

Other and further objects and features of this invention will more fullyappear from the following description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

In Figure 1 there is shown a portion of a conveyor chain with parts inend section, with parts in plan, with parts in elevation, and with partsbroken;

In Figure 2 there is shown a partial top plan View of a conveyor seenfrom above, and with parts broken;

In Figure 3 there is shown a partial bottom plan View of a conveyor seenfrom below, and with parts broken; and

In Figure 4 there is shown an end View of a link as the parts thereofare about to be disassembled, and with parts broken.

In Figure 1 there is shown a portion of a conveyor 90 having the links Hof the present invention, and driven by a sprocket wheel [2 of shortradius. The links H slide along a suitable platform or support [3 tocarry articles to be transferred t a, platform l4 positioned adjacentand' abovethe sprocket wheel l2, and it will be evident that althoughthe sprocket wheel is of short radius, the links H, and the articles onthem, are substantially parallel to the platform 14 immediately prior tothe'point at which the links begin to descend in a vertical direction.

The link H is formed of two parts, each part being a rectangular platehaving outstanding and inwardly curved lips or end portions, and withthe two parts assembled in telescoped relation to define a rectangularcasing with open sides, and to provide a housing and a bearing surfacefor a pair of spaced hinge pins which are each connected externally ofthe link to hinge pins of the next adjacent links forward and rearwardof a certain link, respectively.

The lower part, or wear plate, of the link is a rectangular plate l5having upstanding and inwardly curved end lips 16, and the plate [5 isprovided with a slot I! through which the tooth of a sprocket wheel mayextend to engage a hinge pin I8 seated in the curved lip.

The hinge pin l8 extends beyond the sides of the plate I 5 and iscoupled at its ends by coupling members l9 to a similar hinge pin 20 tobe placed in the next adjacent link. The coupling members [9 may besecured to the pins l8 and 20.

For a certain contemplated duty, the plate [5 is formed of hardened.steel, because this plate will slide over spaced angle irons, or theequivalent, which form the platform l3, but it is obvious that othermaterials than steel may be used to meet the conditions imposed by otherduties than that now contemplated.

The slot I! may be centrally disposed to leave side wings 2| on thelower plate to slide along the support I3.

The upper or article-carrying part of the link is a rectangular plate 22having depending lips 23 which are inwardly'curved at their free ends.All of the lip may be curved, but when the lip 23 has a straight portionmerging into a curved free-end portion, the lip provides a shoulderindicated at 24, and against. which a similar shoulder on the nextadjacent link may abut to maintain the chain substantially horizontalshould the chain have to bridge a gap in the platform I3. The upper part22 carries the articles placed on the conveyor, and may be of anysuitable ma terial chosen with respect to the materials or articlescarried by it.

The plate 22 is slid endwise over the plate l5 into telescoped relationwith it, and when the parts are assembled the link is one having endportions formed of two layers of material. The hinge pins I 8 aresuitably placed in the lower plate [5 so that the upper plate 22 may beslid into place, and this is indicated in Figure 4. It will be obviousthat when the chain is in its normal or straightened-out condition theend coupling members 19 form effective means to limit side movement ofthe plates I5 and 22.

The plate l5 may be substantially flat when care is taken to reduce thedepth of the lips 23 so that the free ends 25 thereof will not engagethe platform, but it is advantageous to dish the plate l5 as indicatedat 26 to thereby provide an intermediate bearing surface lower than theends of the plate and maintain the ends of the plate in spaced relationto the platform l3. When the sprocket wheel 12 has centrally disposedteeth 21 and there is a shoulder 28 on the wheel, dishing of the lowerplate facilitates the turning of the links on this shoulder, as isreadily apparent upon inspection of Figure 1.

The upper plate 22, when in assembled relation to the lower plate, asshown in Figure I, obviously forms a tension member bracing the ends ofthe lower plate, and discouraging any tendency of the ends of the lowerplate to straighten out under load conditions.

It is obvious that the plate IE or the plate 22, or both of them, may beformed of material resilient enough to enable the cover plate 22 to besnapped into engaged relation with the plate Because the pin I8 has alength equal to the width of the plate IE, it is self-evident that thebearing load on the pin and on the lip will be low compared with what itwould be were the pin and lip substantially less than the width of theplate, and that the arrangement disclosed makes for decreased friction,long life, and low power, maintenance, and renewal charges.

The slot ll provides means through which lubricant may be placed in thecasing as the chain travels along its return or unloaded path.

It is obvious that the links may be readily removed from the chain forrenewal of parts or to change the length of the chain, and withoutnecessitating the use of tools, for when the centers of the drivesprockets are brought close enough to provide slack in the chain, thehinge pins [8 in the link may be moved to the position indicatedgenerally in Figure 4, and then the cover may be slid endwise and out ofengagement with the lower part of the link, to release the lower partfor its removal from the chain.

While the link H has been described in connection with an endlessconveyor belt or driving chain, it is obvious that it may be used as anendless track element without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details ofconstruction varied through a Wide range without departing from theprinciples of this invention, and I, therefore,

do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise thannecessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a conveyor chain tobe driven by a sprocket wheel, a two-partcasing formed of a wear plate having upstanding and inwardly directedcurved lips at the opposite ends thereof, and an article-carrying memberextending between and engaging said lips, said wear plate being providedwith means defining a slot to receive a tooth of a sprocket wheel.

2. In a conveyor chain to be driven by a sprocket wheel, a wear platehaving upstanding and inwardly directed curved lips at the opposite endsthereof, said plate being dished in the portion intermediate the endsthereof to provide a wear surface lower than the ends of said plate,said dished portion being provided with means defining a slot to receivea tooth of a sprocket wheel.

3. In a conveyor chain to be driven by a sprocket wheel, a casingcomprising a Wear plate having upstanding and inwardly directed curvedlips at the opposite ends thereof, and an articlecarrying plate havingdepending and inwardly directed curved lips disposed in nested relationto the lips of said wear plate, said wear plate being provided withmeans defining a slot to receive a tooth of a sprocket wheel.

4. In a conveyor chain to be driven by a sprocket wheel, a casingcomprising a wear plate having upstanding lips at the opposite endsthereof, and an article-carrying member having depending lips at theopposite ends thereof and frictionally engaging said upstanding lips intelescoped relation thereto, said wear plate being provided with meansdefining a slot to receive a tooth of a sprocket Wheel.

5. In a conveyor chain, a two-part elongated casing comprising a wearplate having upstanding and inwardly directed curved lips at theopposite ends thereof, a cover member extending between and engagingsaid lips, a hinge pin in said casing and having its opposite endsextending outwardly of said casing, and coupling members on the oppositeends of said pin, said pin being normally in bearing engagement with theinner curved surface of a lip and with said coupling members thendisposed to limit transverse relative movement of said plate and saidcover, said pin being arranged for movement longitudinally of saidcasing to release said plate and said cover for relative transversemovement in disassembling said casing.

65. In a conveyor chain, a two-part elongated casing comprising a wearplate having upstanding lips at opposite ends thereof, a cover memberextending between and slidably engaging said lips, a hinge pin in saidcasing and normally in bearing engagement with a lip, and means on saidpin normally disposed to limit relative transverse movement of saidcover and said plate, said pin being arranged movable longitudinally ofsaid casing to release said cover and said plate for relative transversemovement in disassembling said casing.

'7. In a conveyor chain, a wear plate having upstanding and inwardlycurved lips at opposite ends thereof and having a dished portionintermediate the ends, and means forming a brace for said lips, saidmeans comprising a cover plate having depending inwardly curved lips atopposite ends thereof, said cover being disposed With its lips inoverlying engagement with the lips of said wear plate.

8. In a conveyor chain, a two-part elongated casing comprising a firstplate having curved lips at opposite ends thereof, and a second platehaving resilient curved lips at opposite ends thereof and disposedresiliently engaging the curved lips of said first plate and intelescoped relation thereto, and with the curved lips of one platedisposed exteriorly of the curved lips of the other plate.

9. In a conveyor chain, a two-part elongated casing formed of a pair ofspaced opposed plates each having curved lips of resilient material atopposite ends thereof and with the curved ends of the opposed platesdisposed connecting the plates in telescoped relation, and with thecurved lips of one plate disposed eXteriorly of the curved lips of theother plate.

10. In a conveyor chain to be driven by a sprocket wheel, a plurality oftwo-part casings, each casing being formed of an elongated wear platehaving upstanding lips at the opposite ends thereof and being providedwith a slot to receive a tooth of a sprocket wheel, and an elongatedarticle-carrying member having depending lips at the opposite endsthereof and frictionally engaging said upstanding lips, coupling meansconnecting said casings, the opposite ends of said article-carryingmembers being shaped and arranged cocperable with said coupling means todefine opposed abutting surfaces adapted to maintain said casings inaligned and substantially horizontal relation when said casings aredisposed extending unsupported.

WALDO F. FISCHER.

